Pallet feeder



1954 R. T. EPPERSON ,693, 98

PALLET FEEDER Filed July 17. 1951 s Sheets-She t 1 INVENTOR. 9086/? 7' 7. EPPE/KSOA/ glbamimhl AI'TOPJVEYS.

Nov. 9, 1954 R. T. EPPERSON 2,693,898

PALLET FEEDER Filed July 17, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I l l l l QILI'ILZ ijjjjfjj; 1E1

INVENTORL {(9.5 roar-2r 7T EPPERSON ATTOIE'IVEYJ'.

Nov. 9, 1954 R. T. EPPERSON 2,693,898

PALLET FEEDER Filed July 17, 1951 3 Sheets-Shet 3 v INVENTOR. R0551? 7' 7"- fPpEK0N United States Patent PALLET FEEDER Robert T. Epperson, Ponca City, Okla.

Application July 17, 1951, Serial No. 237,244

1 Claim. (Cl. 221295) This invention relates as indicated to a pallet feeder and more particularly to a device for delivering pallets and like articles from a stack of such articles.

Ordinarily, when it is desired to remove pallets from a stack, as for a packaging operation, this is accomplished by hand by removing the pallets from the top of the stack. This is a ditiicult job and particularly hazardous when the stack is piled high.

The object of this invention is to provide a device for delivering pallets and like articles from the bottom of a stack of the same.

Another object is to provide a device for delivering pallets and like articles one by one from the bottom of a stack or in units of a predetermined number of such articles.

A further object is to provide novel escapement mechanism which may be either manually or power operated whereby such individual or unit delivery from a stack of articles may be accomplished.

Still another object is to provide a pallet feeder which is safe and easy to operate and both labor and time saving.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention then comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claim, the following description and the annexed drawings setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may be employed.

Broadly stated, my invention comprises a support member for a stack of articles and movable to engage and release the articles in bottom-most sequential order, latch means adapted to hold the support member in workengaging position, and means limiting movement of the support member upon withdrawal of the latch means.

In said annexed drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of apparatus embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of a portion of such apparatus showing my novel escapement mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view showing the means employed to support the pallets;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view in perspective of a pallet or like article which my apparatus is adapted to handle;

Fig. 5 shows a modified form of apparatus for feeding pallets automatically; and

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view of the electric circuit employed in the Fig. 5 modification.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. 1-3 thereof, the apparatus of my invention includes a housing or enclosure 1 wherein a vertical stack of pallets or like articles A having exposed supportable edges may be loaded by means of a fork lift truck, for example, such enclosure having upright sides to serve as a guide and thereby properly align the stack of articles therein upon a movable supporting member described hereinafter.

Secured on opposite sides of the enclosure are bearing blocks 2 wherein are journaled a pair of shafts 3, such shafts being horizontally spaced and disposed in parallel relationship one to the other. Keyed or otherwise fixedly secured on each of said shafts are wheels 4 arranged in opposed pairs and having a plurality of equally spaced radially projecting fingers 5 thereon, four in number in ICC 2 the illustration, whereby sets of such fingers of the opposed shafts, when in opposed inwardly facing horizontal position, serve to engage the underside of the lowermost of a stack of pallets to support such stack therebetween. Such fingers are circumrerentially spaced about the respective wheels so that upon rotation of the shafts and prior to release of the lowermost pallet by one set of fingers, the next set of fingers will engage the underside of the next superadjacent pallet. The particular embodiment shown then is adapted to release pallets individually from the bottom of the stack. It is equally within the scope of this invention to provide finger supports which are arranged so as to release the stacked articles in units of more than one; such arrangement may be by the number of fingers or the length thereof, the wheel of which is properly spaced in relation to the thickness of the article.

The delivery of articles as unitary multiples thereof is particularly applicable to manufactured articles, such as sheets, slabs, trays, etc., having exposed edges sup portable by the means of this invention. Such multiple delivery is useful, for example, in feeding such articles to a packaging operation in the preparation of these articles for shipment to market. In the case of pallets, however, which are used as carriers in the manufacture of other goods, these are normally used one at a time, hence are delivered from the feeder as single units.

Sheets metal guard covers 4' may be provided to shield one or all of the wheels 4.

Keyed or otherwise secured to the ends of the respective shafts 3 are a pair of sprockets 6 which constitute elements of escapement mechanism which will now be described. Such sprockets are formed with teeth 7 which project radially outwardly in equally spaced circumferential arrangement. Latches 8 respectively slidable in guides 9 secured on the enclosure are normally in engagement with a tooth of the respective sprockets whereby to hold the shafts with a set of fingers thereof in horizontal loadsupporting position. Such latches are respectively pivotally secured to a lever 10 at 11 and 12, such lever being in turn pivotally mounted on the enclosure at 13. Lever 10 is normally urged to the left as viewed in Fig. 1 by means of spring 14 whereby to maintain latches 8 in engagement with teeth of the respective sprockets and thereby hold the shafts 3 against rotation so as to support the stack. Bracket 10 limits the rotative movement of lever 10. A hand trip, which includes a hand grip 15, a line 16 and a yoke 17 pivotally secured to the upper end of lever 10, is provided whereby, by pulling on the hand grip, the lever is moved so as to disengage latches 8 from the respective sprockets against the influence of spring 14. Line 16 is trained over rollers 18 and 19 carried by brackets 20 and 21 on the enclosure.

In order to prevent the release of pallets in continuous succession upon disengagement of the latches, links 22 pivotally mounted on the enclosure at 23 are provided having projections 24 engageable with the teeth of the respective sprockets. Such links are actuated by movement of the respective latches 8, being formed with slots 25 therein in which lugs 26 on the respective latches slidably fit. As will be seen, such links are so positioned and so interconnected with latches 8 that the projections 24 are moved into a position engageable with the sprocket teeth upon withdrawal of the latches, and are withdrawn upon movement of the latches into such position.

In operation, upon clock-wise movement of lever 10 by means of the hand trip to release the teeth held by the respective latches and permit rotation of shafts 3 through the weight of the stack thereon, such projections will engage such teeth thus released and arrest further rotation of the shafts. Upon release of the hand trip and return of lever 10 to normal position with the latches in tooth engaging position, projections 24 are simultaneously withdrawn and the next succeeding sprocket teeth are engaged by the latches. It is, of course, not necessary that the projections 24 engage the particular sprocket teeth released by the latches.

The mechanism is now reset and no more pallets can be released without again pulling the hand trip.

As will be seen, such sprockets are provided with four teeth equally spaced circumferentially thereabout, such teeth being equal in number to the fingers of wheels 4 so as to providea quarter turn upon each release of the hand trip whereby to permit only a quarter turn of shafts 3 and a release of but one of the pallets. The shafts are prevented from further rotation by engagement of the sprockets with projections 24 of the links which are moved into engaging position upon Withdrawal of the latches.

As indicated above, the wheels 4' may be provided with fingers spaced thereabout' to engage everysecond or every third pallet and thereby release pallets in units of two'or three or more rather than individually as herein shown. On the other hand, the number of pallets per unitto be discharged'may be varied by varyingthe' number of teeth on the sprockets and in thatm'anner control the number of pallets per unit to be released;

The front side of the enclosure is provided with an opening 27 wherebya stack of the pallets may be'loaded therewithin' by'm'ean's of a fork lift truck, for example. Such opening is provided abovethe shafts. Below the shafts and on the opposite side of the enclosure, an opening 28 is provided for'disch'ar'ge of the pallets. Located below'the shafts and intermediate the same are a pluralityof rollers 29 which are rotatably mounted in the enclosure in parallel relationship and which together form an inclined chute arranged to deliver the pallets deposited thereon to the discharge opening 28. The pallets may then be individually removed by hand or deposited upon a moving conveyor for transfer to a use or work location.

The escapement mechanism maybe power actuated instead of by hand as illustrated in Figs. 1-4. Thus, referring to the modification of Figs; and 6, a conveyor belt 30'may be provided adjacent the rear opening 28 of the enclosure with an" electric switch 31 positioned along said conveyor belt. Said switch is in circuit with power lines 32 and 33' and with a solenoid 34 which latter includes a plunger 35 pivotally secured to the upper end of lever 10. Said switch has an operating element 36 normally in raised position as shown to maintain open said circuit. Thus, following initially momentarily closing of the operating element 36, orthe manual push button 37, to energize the solenoid, plunger 35 is drawn to the right, as viewed in Fig. 6, thereby releasing the bottom pallet. Said pallet is then transferred to conveyor 30 by means of rollers 29 and when conveyed sufiicien'tly away fromdischarge opening 28 of the feeder, engages operating element 36 to again momentarily close the electric circuit. The operation is thereafter continuous'with' the pallets being released in automatic suc 1 cession a predetermined distance apart as the circuit is alternately opened and closed. There is no danger of a pile-up of pallets since the release of each unit thereof requires alternate opening and closing of the solenoid electric circuit. The solenoid 34' may likewise be manually operated by a push' button 37 located on the enclosure orremot'ely'therefrom; for example. Another means for actuating trip lever is the use of compressed air in which case the operating elements 36 and 37 will be'control valves coupled to a pneumatic piston in place of solenoid 34;

Thus, it will be seen that'I have provided a novel device for delivering palletsor like articles-in units of one or more from the bottom of a stack. This is accomplished by means of the escapement mechanism which I have described. Such device is very easily operated and is foolproof in operation since only one unit of pallets can be discharged upon operation of the hand trip line, and release of the latter then resets the apparatus so that no more pallets are released until the hand'trip line is again pulled. Likewise, when power operated, there is complete safety and no danger of a pile-up of pallets.

As indicated, units of more than one pallet may be delivered by changing the number or length of fingers on the wheels 4, by spacing the wheels in relation to the thickness of the article fed, or the number of teeth on the escapement sprockets. Thus, for example, if such sprockets were provided with only two diametrically opposite teeth, then shafts 3 would be permitted a half turn each time the hand trip line is pulled and units of two articles would be delivered.

Other modes of applying the principle of the invention may be employed, change being made as regards the details described, provided the features stated in the following claim or the equivalent of such be employed.

1' therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

A device for delivering rigid articles having an upper and lower face and wherein at least-one pair ofthe nonadjacent sides is open in a horizontal plane from the bottom of a stack of the same comprising an enclosure for such stack having straight upright sides, two parallel members rotatably mounted in the lower portion of said enclosure, at least two wheels provided with radially extending fingers supported by each of said parallel members for rotation therewith adapted to enter said open sides'of said rigid articles to support said stack against the force of gravity, a sprocket mounted on the end of each of said-parallel members, a spring controlled lever pivotally mounted on said enclosurebetween said sprockets, a latch pivotally rnounted'onthe lower end of said lever engaging the teeth of one of said sprockets, a second latch pivotally mounted at approximately an equal distance above the pivot holding said lever engaging the'teeth of the other sprocket whereby the pressure exerted by said spring holds said latches in engagement with said sprockets, a link pivotally mounted on said enclosure and in slidable engagement with said first latch and a second link pivotally mounted on said enclosure and in slidable engagement withsaid second latch, means for moving said lever against the pressure exerted by said spring causing said lever to oscillate suficiently to release the latches engaging the teeth of said sprockets whereby the' two parallel members rotate in synchronism permitting the said rigid articles resting on the radially extending fingers'mounted on said parallel members to be released and at--the same time each of said links pivotally mounted on said en closure is actuated moving into a position engageably with the teeth' of said sprockets thus limiting the movement of said parallel members upon release of said latch means.

References-Cited in thefile of: this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 769,063 Doughertyet a1. Aug. 30;1904 1,107,270 Deshler Aug. 18', 1914 1,459,722 Erslev June 26,- 1923 1,649,365 Poling'et a1. Nov. 1 5, 1927 1,767,634 Weiss June24; 1930 1,773,885 Staley Aug: 26,1930 1,974,277 Johnson Sept. 1-8,- 1934 2,100,752 Scheurer Nov. 30,1937 

